Container filling, closing, and sealing machine



April 27, 1954 T. E. PIAZZE I 6 43 LING MACHINE CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEA Filed March 12, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet l *9 INVENTOR. 7720772425 Zfaj 6 April 27, 1954 1-. E. PIAZZE 2,676,443 CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE Filed March 12; 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 w 66 m5 flaw K6 5 IN VEN TOR.

T. E. PIAZZE April 27, 1954 I CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE Filed 'March 12, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE Filed March 12. 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR. 7ZOWZU6ZP6CZZ e,

T. E. PIAZZE CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE Filed March 12, 15 Sheets- Sheet s Wzomzz BY I INVEN TOR. iTPazjze,

April 27, 1954 T. E. PIAZZE 2,676,443

CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet '7 T. E. PIAZZE CONTAINER FILLING. CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE 1949 April 27, 1954 15 Sheets$heet 8 Filed March 12 JNVENTOR. mlfzagze,

15 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENIOR. 7720772062 BY Pa ze,

April 27, 1954 T. E. PIAZZE CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1949 April 27, 1954 E 2,676,443

CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 V////// T m i w W $5 Q I a M g (Q N N I i: vl/ a M n \q Q T 4 g "5 m L N m j INVENTOR.

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BY MdW/r WW April 27, 1954 Filed March 12, 1949 T. E. PIAZZE 2,676,443

CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet l1 INVENTOR.

April 27, 1954 P|AZZE 2,676,443

CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet l2 IN V EN TOR.

April 27, 1954 "r. E. PIAZZE 2,676,443

CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1949 I 15 Shets-Sheet 13 INVENTOR.

April 7, 1954 T. E. PIAZZE 2,676,443

CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE Filed March 12. 1949 15' Sheets-Sheet l4 INVENTOR. %077ZQ9'51QQZZ6,

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CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND SEALING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet l5 INVENTOR. T/zpml Ra ye,

Patented Apr. 27, 1954 2,676,443 CONTAINER FILLING, CLOSING, AND

SEALING M Thomas E. Piazze,

ACHINE Mount Vernon, Ohio, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Continental Can Company, Inc., of New York New York, N. Y., a corporation Application March 12, 1949, Serial No. 81,154

Claims. 1

This invention is concerned with improvements in a mechanism for automatically transferring a container or bag formed of pliable sheet material from a container forming machine, filling the container with a commodity, closing the top of the filled container and thereafter sealing the same.

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine having a pocketed conveyor for receiving an open top tubular container of pliable heat sealable material from a container making machine and for intermittently conveying the container along a linear path, including mechanism at successive stations along the path of the conveyor for filling the container with merchandise, tucking the ends walls of the top thereof while bringing the side walls into juxtaposed relation to form a fiat closure and for finally heat sealing the closed top.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a machine of the type described comprising an intermittently operated conveyor having pockets rotatably mounted thereon, a transfer mechanism for successively removing openended tubular bags from a bag making machine and transferring them to the pockets of the conveyor, a filling mechanism for filling each successive bag with merchandise, a top closing mechanism for tucking the end walls of the bag top to form a bellows fold therein and for bringing the side walls face relation, a

of the bag top into face-to-fiatsealing mechanism for heat sealing the folded bag top and automatic control mechanism for operating the rotatable pockets to present the bags successively in the proper position to the filling, closing and sealing mechanisms.

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine of the type described wherein mechanism is provided at the filling station for vibrating the bag holding pocket on the conveyor while the bag is being filled to settle the material in the bag.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a machine of the type described a mechanism for folding and closing the top portions of successive filled bags by placing in the end walls thereof a bellows fold and bringing the Side walls into contiguous flat folded relation.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a machine of the type described a mechanism for closing the tops of the successive filled bags by'tucking in the end walls and bringing the side walls together in combination with a guide mechanism for maintaining the bag tops in closed condition while they are moved to the sealing station.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the machine which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with the filling, tucking and sealing units removed;

Fig. 3 is a partial elevation of the opposite side of the machine at the bag receiving and filling end;

Fig. #1. is a partial elevation of the opposite side of the machine at the tucking and sealing end;

Fig. 5 is a section transversely of the machine taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view pocket structures;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the pocket structure;

Fig. 10 is a section of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is an elevation to an enlarged scale showing the front of the tucking unit;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation showing the tucking unit;

Fig. 13 is a section of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a partial transverse section showing the guide mechanism for retaining the container top in closed relation as it is moved from the tucking mechanism to the sealing mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the guide mechanism shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a partial section taken transversely of the machine showing the sealing mechanism;

Fig. 17 is a bottom view of the sealing mechanism taken generally on the line indicated at ll-ll of Fig. 16;

Figs. 18 and 19 are schematic views illustrating the filling of the container;

Figs. 20 to 24 are schematic views illustrating the operation of the tucking elements;

Figs. 25 to 28 are schematic views illustrating the operation of the guide members between the tucking mechanism and the sealing mechanism;

Figs. 29 to 31 are schematic views illustrating the operation of the sealing elements; and

of one of the conveyor taken on the line Ill-l0 taken on the line l3l3 Fig. 32 is a partial view of the container in completely sealed condition.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a mechanism for filling and closing a container which is particularly adapted for use with a container fabricating machine of the type in which a series of mandrels are carried on an endless conveyor and sheets of bag making material are folded over the ends of the mandrels to form a flat bottom container having vertical side seams. After the material is folded over the mandrel and the seams are sealed the container is adapted to be removed from the mandrel in a horizontal direction, generally with the widest side of the container extending crosswise of the machine.

The machine of this invention includes an intermittently driven endless conveyor which is provided with a series of pocket-forming mandrels in which the fiat bottom containers are adapted to be received from the container fabricating machine. vided whereby the containers are successively stripped from the mandrels of fabricating machine and transferred to the mandrels or pockets of the filling and closing machine. A filling mechanism, a container top tucking mechanism and a top sealing mechanism are arranged on the filling and closing machine along the upper run of the mandrel carrying conveyor and each container is successively presented to these mechanisms for the filling, closing and sealing operations. The filling and closing machine is provided with appropriate drive mechanism for direct connection with the drive mechanism of the container fabricating machine or is operated by independent drive mechanism with appropriate means for synchronizing the movement of the conveyor and the operation of the filling and closing mechanisms with the movement of the mandrel carrying conveyor of the container fabricating machine. 4

While the filling and closing mechanism illustrated is particularly designed for use container feeding or supplying arrangement whereby containers of the flat bottom type are to the receiving mandrels the location of the filling machine which is connected to the container fabricating machine will be referred to as the receiving end of the machine. The opposite side and end will be referred to as the'rear side and discharge end, respectively.'

The various mechanisms are supported on a generally rectangular frame It (Figs. 1 and 2; which comprises a base upstanding front and. rear side frame members l2 and I3 which are laterally spaced at the receiving end of the machine, upstanding side frame members l4 and |5 which are laterally spaced at the discharge end of the machine, and top front and rear side plates l5 and l! which extend longitudinally of the machine and connect the upstanding side frame members !2, l4 and I3, l5, respectively. The side plates i6 and H are connected at the receiving end to side frame members of the container fabricating machine H! by connecting plates I9 and 29 which extend between the side frame members of the container-machine. and

A transfer mechanism is pro-- with a container fabricating machine of the type referred to, it may be used in connection with an'y v secured to the idler shaft 21.

4 the plates 2| and 22 depending from the ends of the frame members l6 and H.

A pair of transversely spaced endless conveyor chains 23 are carried on spaced pairs of sprockets 2s and '25 at the receiving and discharge ends of the machine. The sprockets 24 are secured to the driven shaft 28 and the sprockets 25 are The shaft 28 is journaled in the side frame members |2 and I3 and the shaft 21 is journaled in adjustable bearing blocks 2% mounted in the side frame members it and 5E. The endless chains 23 are connected at longitudinally spaced intervals by transversely extending pairs of rods 2a which support inter mediate their ends a series of hollow mandrels 3G for receiving and carrying the containers.

Each mandrel 39 (Figs. 2, 5 and 8 to 10) comprises a base 3| secured on the supporting rods 29 and having a central aperture 32 for receiving a pivot pin 33 depending from a circular plate 34. The pin 33 is secured in rotatable relation in the aperture 32 by the nut 35. The base 3| is provided with relatively large apertures 38 periph erally spaced around the central aperture 32. The bottom face of the base 3| is curved at 31 in direction transversely of the machine. The top face of the base 3! is flat and provides a bearing surface for the bottom of the rotatable plate 35. Plate 3c is provided with apertures 39 which are adapted to communicate with the apertures 3B in the base 3|.

Two generally opposite radial extensions 40 and 4i are provided on the periphery of plate 34.

. The extension .8 carries an upwardly projecting pin 42 relation therein a block while the extension 4| carries a depending roller lit. The pin 22 and the roller 43 are adapted to be engaged by cam members, which will be described, for rotating the plate 34 relative to the base 3|.

A third radial extension 455 is provided on plate 34; intermediate the two radial extensions 40 and ii. Extension M is provided with a depending cover plate 45, secured thereto on the underside, to define a chamber A6 for receiving in sliding 41. The sliding block 41 is provided with an end recess 48 in which a compression spring 49 operates to urge the block 4'! inwardly towards the base member 3|. The innerend of the sliding block A! carries a roller 5B which is adapted to engage a cam-like track 5| formed on a part of the periphery of the base 3i and provided with notches or stop recesses 52' and 53 at the opposite ends thereof. The roller 59 is adapted to travel on the track 5| as the plate 34 is rotated relative to the base 3| and to seat in the recesses 52 and 53 at the ends of the track 5| for positioning the plate 34 in the two positions required in the operation of the machine. The recesses 52 and 52 are separated by an angle of approximately degrees providing for approximately a quarter turn of the plate 34.

A cover plate 54 is secured on the upper face of plate 35 and carries upwardly projecting pocket forming members 55. The members 55 form a hollow tube section for receiving the bag, and the cover plate 54 is perforated or provided with apertures 56 within the hollow tube section which communicate with apertures 39 and 36 so that in both positions of the plate 3 there is a communicating passageway between the bottom of the bag supporting members 55 and the curved bottom of the base 3|. The chains 23 on which the mandrels 30 are mounted are intermittently moved by operation ofthe shaft .26 which carries thesprockets 24 at the receiving end of the machine. The shaft 26 is provided with a gear 51 adjacent the front side of the frame member I2 which meshes with a gear 58 on the transverse shaft 59. The shaft 59 is journaled in the frame members I2 and I3 and is provided on its other end with a Geneva mechanism comprising the driven element 60 and the continuously operating driving element 6| which is mounted on the shaft 62.

The shaft '52 is provided with a gear 63 on the inside of the frame member I3 which meshes with the pinion 64 on the shaft 65 which is journaled in the side frame members I2 and I3. Shaft 65 is provided with a. sprocket 66, on the outside of the frame member I3, which is connected by a chain 6'! with a drive sprocket 68 on a stub shaft 69. An idler sprocket I9 is supported on a bracket II which is adjustably mounted on the side frame I3 to provide tensioning in the chain 61.

The stub shaft 69 is journaled on the rear side frame member I3 and carries a sprocket 12 which is connected by a drive chain I3 to the power drive shaft of the container fabricating machine I8 and which supplies driving power for operating the container filling and closing mechanism in timed relation with the movement of the mandrels 14 on the container fabricating machine I3.

The mandrels 30 are adapted to be operated in such a manner that they will be brought successively to a point or station at the receiving end of the machine where the pocket forming members 55 extend outwardly in alignment with a transverse chute "I5. The chute I5 is horizontally positioned somewhat lower than the mandrel 14 on the container machine I8 when the latter is positioned for removal of the container. The chute 15 provides a passageway for the containers as they are stripped successively from the mandrels I4 and transferred to the pocket forming members 55.

The chute comprises a three-sided or channel-shaped fixed member I6 which is supported on a cross bar I! adjustably mounted at its ends on the side connecting plates I9 and 20 by bolt and slot connections I8. The chute I5 is provided with a movable side I9 which is secured to a pivoted cross bar 80. The cross bar is journaled in the upstanding side plates SI which are connected at their base to the side connecting plates I9 and 20. An arm 82 is secured on the one end of the cross bar 80 and pivotally connected to the upper end of a link 83 the lower end of which is pivotally connected to an operating arm 84. The arm 84 is pivotally secured to the frame member I3 at 85 and provided with a cam roller 86 engaging the cam 81 mounted on the stub shaft '69 adjacent the driving sprocket 12. The stub shaft 69 also carries a sprocket 88 for driving the chain 88' which operates a charge measuring and filling device located adjacent the filling station directly above the same.

When a container receiving mandrel 30 is positioned at the container receiving station in line with the transfer chute I5 the curved bottom surface 31 of the mandrel base 3| engages with the curved open end 89 (Fig. 6) of the forward portion 90 of a vacuum tunnel which is supported by a bracket 9| depending from a cross rail 92 which extends between the frame members I2 and I3. The vacuum tunnel includes an offset rearward portion 93 which extends beyond the center of the machine and which is connected by a downwardly extending tunnel member 94 with a suction pump 95. The'suction pump 95 may be motor driven or operated in any otherconventional manner to provide suction in the tunnel 90, 93 suflicient to pull the container through the transfer chute 15 and into the receivstation includes a downwardly extending spout 93. A small air pipe 99 extends into the spout 98 for blowing air into the open top of the container while a charge of material is fed into the container through the spout 98. The pipe 99 may be supplied with air from any conventional source. The supply of air may be conveniently controlled by a valve which may be operated by a cam on any one of the continuously driven shafts of the machine (not shown). The stream of air supplied by pipe 99 assists in holding the bag top open and also in settling the material.

The vibrating mechanism (Figs. 1 to 7), which operates on the mandrel 30 while the container is being filled, comprises a pair of channel-shaped side members I at each provided with an inwardly directed recess IIlI through which the chains 23 travel. The recess IBI is approximately the same width or depth as the rollers I02 which are provided on the ends of the mandrel carrying bars 29. The channel-shaped members I90 are mounted on the forward ends I93 of laterally spaced side frame members I04 of a vibrating frame. The side framemembers I 94 are pivotally mounted at their rearward ends on a transverse drive shaft I05.

Th drive shaft I95 extends transversely of the machine and is journaled in the main frame members I2 and I3. The drive shaft I05 is extended outwardly at the front of the machine and provided with a gear I06 which meshes with a gear I Ii! on a stub shaft I08 extending outwardly of main frame member I2. The shaft I08 is provided with a pulley I09 which is connected by a belt I I0 with a continuously operating motor III supported on the base II.

A friction pulley H2 is mounted on the shaft I05 and is connected by means of a belt I I3 with a pulley II l secured on a cross shaft II5 which is journaled between the side frame members I04 of the vibrating frame adjacent the forward end I03 thereof. The shaft I I 5 is provided with pairs of oppositely disposed weights IIB arranged on opposite sides of the frame adjacent the ends I03 thereof. Rotation of the shaft II5 causes the frame to be vibrated by the action of centrifugal force on the weights H6. The side arms I04 being pivoted about the shaft I05 are caused to vibrate in the vertical direction.

A limited movement of each of the members I90 is permitted in the space provided between a lower bumper plate I I! on the cross frame member 92 and an adjustable upper bumper member IIB. Each of the bumper members II 8 is mounted on the bottom end of an adjustable threaded post I I9 depending from the end of a supporting arm I20. The arms I20 are pivotally mounted on pins I2! which are journaled in blocks I22 attached to the main frame members I6 and I1, respectively.

Each arm I20 is provided with an integral d n-r pending arm I23, pivotally connected. at I24 to a link I25, which extend longitudinally of the machine. The links I25 are pivotally connected at the otherend at I26 to arms I21 which are secured to the transversely extending shaft. I23. The shaft I28 is journaled in the side frame members I2 and I3 with one end extending at the rear side of the machine and provided with an arm I29. The arm I29 carries at its free end a downwardly projecting pin- 13G engaging in an aperture I35 in a projecting bracket I32 attached to the side frame member I3 and carrying a compression spring I33 tending to urge the arm I23 in the upward direction. The arm I29 is limited in its upward movement by a stop pin I34 which is adjustably mounted in a bracket I35 secured on theframe member I3. The shaft I28 is extended at its other end and provided with an arm I36 carrying on its free end a cam roller I31 which engages a cam I38 on the driven shaft I39.

The configuration of the cam I38 is'such that the vibrating mechanism is permitted to operate on the container receiving mandrel 30 at the filling station during the time in which the container is being filled with the commodity and for a short interval thereafter. When the cam roller I 31 isresting on the high point of the cam I36 the arm I36 positions the shaft I23 to hold the upper bumper members I I8 in lowered position through connecting arms I21, links I25 and arms I23 and I26. When in the lowered position the bumpers H8 hold the side members Ifiil against the lower bumpers I I1 and prevent their movement. When the cam roller I31 is resting on the low point of the cam I36 the bumper members i I6 are held in the raised position by the spring I33 operating on the arm I29 and the side members I69 are freed for a limited vertical movement. The shaft H is constantly rotated by the drive belts H0 and H3 which connect it with the motor E II and the side members I03, when they are free to move, are

vibrated by the action'of centrifugal force on the rapidly rotating counter-weights I I6. The adjustable posts H3 which carry the upper bumper members III;- permit adjustment on both sides of the machine to insure that both members I00 are permitted to vibrate the same amount. The stop pin member I34 is adjustable to control the length of the swing of the vibrator frame by varying in a single operation the space between the upper bumper members I I8 and the lower bumper members IE1. The stop member I34 is located outside the main frame of the machine where it is readily accessible for adjustment while the machine is in operation.

The charge measuring and delivering mechanism (which has not been described) may be provided with an interrupter device having an operating arm in the path of movement of the top'of the container so. that should there be any failure of the container mechanism resulting in the absence of a container in the container receiving.

pocket the charge for that container will not be delivered to the chute 98 and there will be no loss or spilling of the commodity.

The container receiving mandrel 33 are moved by the conveyor from the filling station to the top tucking and closing station. Between the filling station and the top tucking station there is provided a cam member I40 secured to the frame side plate I6 and extending into the path of the rollers 43 on the mandrels 33 so that as a. mandrel 36 is moved past the cam I46 the roller 43 engages with the cam I40. and the mandrel 36 is rotated through 90 to bring the container top into the tucking mechanism.

proper position for operation of the tuckin mechanism. The containers are generally rectangular in cross section and are delivered from the container fabricating machine to the mandrels with the longest side wall extending transversely of the machine. The containers are filled while in this position relative to the machine and are thereafter successively rotated by movement of the mandrels 36 to position the longer sides of each container lengthwise of the machine and the shorter sides transversely of the machine so that the tucks may be properly formed in the short sides of the top margins of the container by the tucking mechanism.

The top tucking mechanism which is generally indicated at MI and which is shown in detail in Figs. 4, ll, 12 and 13, comprises a vertical housing I42 which is secured at it base to the main frame member I3 and side plate I! by an attaching block or plate I43 (Figs. i and 12). The housing I 42 is generally rectangular in cross section (Fig. 13) and is provided on its front face with a vertical slot I43. Laterally spaced, vertical side edge guideway forming plates I45 are provided having opposed inwardly beveled guideway forming faces I46 which receive a slide plate M1.

The slide plate I41 is vertically movable relative to the housing I42 and carries the entire A toothed rack I48 extends vertically along the center of the plate I41 from the lower end thereof to a point approximately half the height of the plate. The rack I48 is operated by a pinion I49 which is mounted on the cross shaft I53 journaled in the side walls of the lower portion of the housing I42. shaft I53 extends exteriorly of the housing I42 at the one end and has secured thereon a pinion I5I and a hand-operating wheel I52. The pinion I5: engages with a gear I53 secured on the end of a cross shaft I54 which is journaled in the housing I42 and which extends exteriorly of the other side thereof. An arm I55 is secured on the extended end of the shaft i54 and is pivotally connected at I56 to the top of a vertically extending link I51. The lower end of link I51 is pivotally connected at I56 to one end of an arm I59; The arm I59 is pivotally mounted at its other end on a short shaft I68 which is mounted in bearings secured to the frame member I3. The arm I59 carries a cam roller I6I which engages an operatingcam I62 which is secured on a driven shaft I63 extending longitudinally along the rear side of the machine.

The slide plate I41 is provided on its rear face with a slot or recess I64 extending along the center thereof from its upper edge which provides a guideway for a movable rack member I65. The rack member W5 is generally T-shaped in cross section with its head portion sliding in the recess I64 and retained therein by side plates I56 secured to the slide plate I41. The rack I65 is operated by a pinion I61 which is mounted on a transverse shaft Hit journaled in the upper side walls of the housing I42. The shaft I68 extends outwardly at one side. of the housing I42 andv is provided with a pinion I66 which engages wifch a gear I13 mounted on the end of a transverse shaft Ill. The other end of the shaft. I1I extends outwardly at the opposite side of the housing I42 and is provided with an arm I12 which is pivotally connected at I13 to a vertically extending link,l14. The other end of the link I14 is pivotally connected at I15 to one end of an arm I16 which is pivotally mounted at the other end on the small shaft I60. The arm I16 carries at its outer end a cam roller I11 which engages with the cam I 18 on the driven shaft The movement of the slide plate I41 relative to the housing I42 and the movement of the rack member I65 relative to the slide plate I41 is controlled by rotation of the shaft I 53 and the configuration of the respective operating cams I62 and I18.

The slide plate I 41 carries a supporting head plate I19 on its front face intermediate the top and bottom edges which is secured thereto in slightly spaced relation. The head plate is generally H-shaped (Fig. 11) and is positioned with the cross bar portion extending vertically in front of the slide plate I41. It is secured directly to the slide plate I 41 at the top at I89 while at the bottom it is secured at I 8I to an angle bar I82 which extends longitudinally of the machine. The angle bar I82 has its vertical leg secured between the face of the slide plate I41 and the back of the head plate I19 and is extended at the one end towards the filling mechanism to receive vertical and horizontal frame members I83 and I84 (Fig. 1). The frame members I83 are adjustably connected to the angle bar I82 and the frame members I94 carry the filling funnel 98 so that the vertical movement of the slide plate I41, which occurs 98 within the top of the station, permitting the ceeding container while are performed on the tucking station.

The lower portion of the head plate I19 is provided with upper and lower guideway forming recesses I 85 and I89 which extend longitudinally of the machine. The recesses I 85 and I 86 are formed into guideways by longitudinally extending plate members I81, I88 and I89 which are secured to the front of the head plate I19 with their edges extending slightly over the face of the recesses I85 and I 86. The lower guideway I86 receives sliding blocks I90 and I 9| which operate in opposite ends of the guideway and which are connected at their outer ends by short links I92 and 493 with the lower ends of the arms I94 and I95, respectively, of a pair of hell cranks which are pivotally mounted at I96 and I91 on the outer ends of the longitudinally extending top portions of the head plate I19. The other arms I98 and I99 of the bell cranks extend inwardly toward each other and are slotted at the inner ends at 299 and 29I to receive an operating pin 292. The pin 202 is mounted on the lower end of a link 203 which is connected at its top end to a post 294 secured on the sliding rack member I65. The post 204 extends through a slot 295 in the slide plate I41 which permits vertical movement of the post 294. The pin 202 extends into a guide slot 206 in the head plate I19. Movement of the rack I 65 relative to the slide plate I 41 results in movement of the sliding blocks I90 and I 9I toward and from each other through the connecting links I92 and I93, bell crank arms I94, I99 and I95, I99 and the vertical operating link 203. The slide plates I99 and I9! support forwardly projecting posts 291 and 293 which are adjustably mounted in slots 299 and 2I9. The posts 201 and 298 support the outer tucker plates 2 and 2I2 which are adjustably mounted on the posts by means of the apertured supporting container at the filling filling of the next sucthe tucking operations filled container at the in the operation of the tucking mechanism, positions the filling funnel brackets 2I3 and 2 I4 having clamping screws 2l5 and 2I6, respectively.

The upper guideway I ends the sliding blocks 2I1 pivotally connected by pins 2I9 and 229 to the inner ends of cross links 22I and 222. The outer end of the links 22I and 222 are pivotally connected at 223 and 224 to the vertical arms I94 and I95, respectively, of the bell cranks which operate the lower slide blocks I and I9I. Outward movement of the arms I94 and I results in movement of the blocks 2I1 and 2I8 inwardly towards each other, the pins 2I9 and 220 operating in a recess provided beneath the guideway forming plate I81. The blocks 2I1 and 2I8 support outwardly projecting posts 225 and 226 which are adjustably mounted in slots 221 and 228 in the blocks. The posts 225 and 226 support pairs of L-shaped inner tucking plate members 229 and 230 which are adjustably supported thereon by means of slotted supporting brackets 23I and 232 having adjusting screws 233 and 234. The L-shaped inner tucker plates 229 and 230 are arranged in opposed pairs in spaced relation and are adapted to receive between the downwardly extending legs thereof the outer tucker plates 299 and 2I0 when the plates are moved into the tucking position as illustrated in Figs. 20 to 24. A tension spring 235 is connected at one end to pin 236 on the link I14 and at the other end to the machine frame to hold cam roller I11 on the cam I 18 and to insure smooth operation of the tucking members in the tucking operation.

The cams I62 and I18 are formed so that in one cycle of operation the tucking mechanism is operated to close and tuck the top of a filled container. While the slide plate I 41 is moved downwardly the inside tucker plates 229 and 239 are moved toward each other to their innermost position and the outside tucker plates 2| I and 2 I 2 are moved outwardly to the outermost position. As the slide I41 reaches the lower limit of movement the inside tucker plates 229 and 239 are moved into the top of the container, Thereafter the inside tucker plates 229 and 230 are moved outwardly while the outside tucker plates 2H and 2I2 are moved inwardly between the inside tucker plates to form the tucks in the sides of the container top. Before withdrawal of the tucker plates from the top of the container the inside tucker plates 229 and 230 are moved slightly toward each other and the outside tucker plates 2 and M2 are moved outwardly. After Withdrawal of the tucker plates from the container top the slide plate I41 is moved upwardly and the cycle of movement is repeated.

A guide mechanism for retaining the top of the container in closed tucked position while it is moved between the tucking station and the sealing station is arranged longitudinally of the ma chine in spaced relation above the conveyor. The mechanism is supported on portions of the supporting frame for the sealing mechanism (Figs. 14 to 25) The guide mechanism comprises a pair of cooperating laterally movable guide plates 249, Ml (Fig. 25) and a pair of fixed guide plates 242, 243. The guide plates 240, 24I are secured at their ends to vertical shafts 244 and 245 which constitute pivots for the guide plates and which are journaled in top and bottom supporting plate members 246 and 241 arranged on top and bottom sides of the supporting cross bar 248 which is secured adjacent opposite ends to vertical plates receives at opposite and 2I8 which are 

